AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: GT) today announced that Paul Fitzhenry was elected by the Board of Directors as senior vice president of global communications, effective October 8.

Fitzhenry will report to Richard J. Kramer, Goodyear's chairman, president and chief executive officer. As chief communications officer, Fitzhenry will be responsible for leading Goodyear's global communications strategy and aligning it with the company's business objectives, global strategy, and corporate mission. He also will oversee the operations of Goodyear's fleet of world famous airships.

Fitzhenry, 53, joins Goodyear with more than 25 years experience in key communications roles in leading global companies. Since 2007, he has served as vice president of corporate communications with Tyco International – a $17 billion diversified global industrial company – leading internal and external communications, executive communications and brand strategy as well as Tyco's global philanthropy and corporate responsibility programs.

Prior to joining Tyco, Fitzhenry spent 18 years in the global pharmaceutical industry in senior communications roles with Pfizer Inc, Pharmacia Corporation and The Upjohn Company based in the U.S., Canada and Europe. He began his career as a newspaper reporter in Canada and later worked for a Toronto-based public and government affairs consulting firm.

"Paul's experience and proven effectiveness as a global communications leader will be a tremendous asset to Goodyear," said Kramer. "We are looking forward to him leading our global communications effort to help drive the execution of our strategy."

A native of Brampton, Ontario, Fitzhenry holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Western Ontario and a master's degree in public relations from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Throughout his career, he has been active in industry associations and professional organizations including PhRMA, the Conference Board and PR Seminar. He currently serves as a National Trustee with Boys and Girls Club of America.

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs approximately 72,000 people and manufactures its products in 53 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

Certain information contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. There are a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control, that affect our operations, performance, business strategy and results and could cause our actual results and experience to differ materially from the assumptions, expectations and objectives expressed in any forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: our ability to realize anticipated savings and operational benefits from our cost reduction initiatives or to implement successfully other strategic initiatives; increases in the prices paid for raw materials and energy; pension plan funding obligations; actions and initiatives taken by both current and potential competitors; deteriorating economic conditions or an inability to access capital markets; work stoppages, financial difficulties or supply disruptions at our suppliers or customers; the adequacy of our capital expenditures; a labor strike, work stoppage or other similar event; our failure to comply with a material covenant in our debt obligations; potential adverse consequences of litigation involving the company; as well as the effects of more general factors such as changes in general market, economic or political conditions or in legislation, regulation or public policy. Additional factors are discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent our estimates only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as of any subsequent date. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if our estimates change.